Brittany Repholz walks to fund research

Brittany Repholz, of Wildwood NJ, is living with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma Nodular Sclerosis, is determined to help build awareness about the more than 894,000 people in the United States living with a blood cancer. Brittany will show her support by participating in The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s Light The Night® Walk on Saturday, September 13, 2008 at the Wildwoods Convention Center in Wildwood NJ.
This fall marks the 10th anniversary of Light The Night, LLS’s annual fundraising walk, held in approximately 230 communities throughout the country. The Walk features teams of co-workers, families and friends walking together in twilight holding illuminated balloons – white for survivors, red for supporters and gold to remember those who have died. The Walk, which commemorates lives touched by blood cancers, is a celebration, with music, refreshments and family activities. This year, the Society’s Southern New Jersey/Shore Region Chapter will host walks on September 13, 2008 at the Wildwoods Convention Center, September 27, 2008 at Waterfront Park: Home of the Trenton Thunder, October 4, 2008 at the Ocean Grove Youth Temple, and on October 11, 2008 at Campbell’s Field: Home of the Camden Riversharks.
John Lynch, Director of Sales and Entertainment at The Wildwoods Convention Center and Corporate Chair for this year’s Light The Night Walk in Wildwood has been a long time friend of Brittany’s father, and is also well known for reaching out to his community. When Lynch was informed of Brittany’s diagnosis, he knew he wanted to help. Lynch along with hundreds from the community, supported a Pancake Breakfast what helped raise money for the costs associated with Brittany’s illness. Once again, Lynch will be supporting Brittany by participating in the Light The Night Walk on September 13th while the community honors her as one of the heroes at the Walk.
“Light The Night is the nation’s opportunity to pay tribute to lives touched by blood cancer,” said Karen Zatzariny, Executive Director of the Southern New Jersey/Shore Region Chapter. “We are grateful to all of our participants for supporting this lifesaving program. The funds raised help the Society support leading-edge research and provide much-needed patient services.”
In the fall 2007, more than $39 million was raised through Light The Night Walks in more than 250 communities nationwide. For more information on forming a team, please call the Southern New Jersey/Shore Region Chapter at 856-638-1250 x 202 or visit www.lightthenight.org.snj .
Actor Rob Brown is the 2008 spokesperson for Light The Night Walk. Brown stars in the new film, “The Express,” as Ernie Davis, who was the first African American to win the Heisman trophy but then succumbed to leukemia before he could make his NFL debut with the Cleveland Browns.
Light The Night’s 2008 national presenting sponsor in the United States is Bristol-Myers Squibb. Hyundai Hope on Wheels, Genentech/Biogen Idec and Quest Diagnostics are national supporting sponsors. Industrial Alliance is the national presenting sponsor in Canada.
About The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society
The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society®, headquartered in White Plains, NY, with 68 chapters in the United States and Canada, is the world’s largest voluntary health organization dedicated to funding blood cancer research and providing education and patient services. The LLS mission: Cure leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin’s disease and myeloma, and improve the quality of life of patients and their families. Since its founding in 1949, LLS has invested more than $600 million in research specifically targeting leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma. Last year alone, LLS made 6.3 million contacts with patients, caregivers and healthcare professionals.
For more information about blood cancer, visit www.LLS.org or call the LLS Information Resource Center (IRC), a call center staffed by master’s level social workers, nurses and health educators who provide information, support and resources to patients and their families and caregivers. IRC information specialists are available at (800) 955-4572, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET.